The Flywheel

Program for friDAY JULY 11Th

A Musical Tribute to Independence

The Singing Blue Star Moms of the USS
Hornet, visit Richmond Rotary to celebrate the
secret weapon that really won WWII— the music.

The
Blue
Star Moms are
an Andrews Sisters Tribute Group who also raise awareness
of and support for the soldiers and families of soldiers
currently in harm's way.

MEETING OF June 27th, 2008

Welcome, Invocation, Thought for the Day

“Big Wheel spin and spin, Little Wheel turn ’round
and ‘round.”-Odetta
And with that President Pam’s last
official duty for this Rotary Year was to ring the bell
and call the meeting to order on her own Demotion. Raphael
Madrigal lead the Pledge of Allegiance and Stony
Stonework lead the invocation. Henry Kelman,
quizzically asked if we were really trading a year of
looking at Mark Howe for the gorgeous,
buxom, blond about to leave the podium for a well earned
rest in London? We all know where Henry’s
allegiance are, tough coconuts Mark!

Visiting Rotarians

Mark Noibin, visiting the Richmond
Country Club with Josh Genser came along
to Rotary (from Wisconsin) and allowed as how he would
be moving to the area and might join Richmond Rotary.

Rotarians with Guests

Charlie Fender introduced his wife Clavel mentioning
that they are celebrating their 66thwedding anniversary.Jon Lawlis introduced his son Nick
who is no stranger to Rotary. (We observe that
with the newly toned-up and svelt Lawlis duo
preparing for an ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro,
the Club risks the loss of three members.)

Sunshine Report

“Bill K.” Koziol said that
the club is in pretty good shape except for Barbara
M. who is still smarting from shoulder
surgery, but not too much to miss the Demotion, as Barb
smiled stoically to the crowd.

Announcements

Jan Brown on behalf of Rhonda
Harris and the Teen Moms Program thank the
club for its support of the Moms.

Jim & Linda Young, Susan & Mark Howe

Jim Young reported on the
Rotary International Convention in Los Angeles—an international
celebration of Rotary and proof that it is a genuine
international organization.

Incoming Rotary International
President D.
K. Lee, from South Korea, introduced his program
year under the slogan, “Make Dreams Real”.
DK Lee used the convention energy to encourage continuing
strong Rotary efforts, locally and internationally,
to promote the health of children, especially eliminating
preventable diseases, providing clean water and promoting
literacy. DK Lee used the full weight of his
office to implore Rotarians to complete the Polio Plus
Goal and eliminate polio from the Earth.

Polio Plus exhibit at L.A. Convention

Keynote speaker Dr.
Margaret Chan, Secretary General of the World
Health Organization, underscored the President's speech.
She announced she was putting the elimination
of polio, now found only in northern Nigeria and Udder
Pradesh India on “emergency
status”, throwing all the resources of WHO
into polio eradiation.

DK Lee encouraged
Rotary at all levels to consider joint projects
with other like-minded organizations. Pointing
to the Gates Foundation $100MM matching grant for Polio
Plus , Lee encouraged Rotarians to
seek opportunities to increase our
effectiveness. Jim Young sees this encouragement
as a major departure from Rotary’s “go it alone” tendency.

The
convention was a lot of fun: Hollywood Bowl, almost
no smog, “new’ downtown L.A.. But
it was also an opportunity missed for our Club: given
the proximity, we should have encouraged many more
members to attend. (For
more information about D. K. Lee see the article in
this month’s
Rotarian.)

Treasurer David Brown announced a
Club contribution of $5,000, which
was matched by the Rotary Foundation, generating a
$25,000 grant for hospital supplies to Antananarivo,
the capital of Madagascar.

Norm Foley made a $200 donation
to the club and provided the message that he’s
getting around and Bonnie is much
better.

Recognitions

Soon-to-beX-Prez Pam recognized her
Board of Directors with handsome Rotary Clock-Photo Frames,
no doubt so the continuing members will be more prompt
to Mark Howe Board meetings. For a listing of those former
Boarders, check out a back issue of “The Flywheel”.
George Egan was heard to ask if the girl in the clock
picture frame is also part of the gift.

Raffle Results

Judy Morgan won the raffle and got
a free lunch.

THE PROGRAM

Building a Strong Financial Foundation

The Pam Demotion & Roast started with a Don “the
Minahune” Lau, Don Ho, inspired tribute
to Pam’s weekly glass of Champaign. Entitled “Tiny
Bubbles”, the Minahune ripped off Don Ho’s “Pearly
Shells” with rather clever lyrics about the occasionally
observed effects of the Tiny Bubbles on Pam’s
deminer and otherwise fair complexion. Unfortunately,
Richmond Rotary is not a “singing Rotary”,
so those unfamiliar with one of the most heard songs
in Hawaii, probably didn’t get it.

Things then really started going down hill when Swampy “the
Sleez” Baggs from the “National
Enquirer” showed up to ask the question, “What
is she trying to hide! (Dah, dah, dah, dah!). ‘Swampy” proceeded
to use the best photo journalism techniques used by
the National Enquirer to suggest that, very possibly
maybe, Pam might really by on the lamb and could possibly
be the true Lora Bobbitt and the driving force behind
the ‘I Love Lucy Show’. Your
Editor notes you had to have been there.

Continuing down the slippery slope of reconstructing
Pam’s past, Josh ‘Goody Two Shoes’ Surowitz,
continued the exposé with, “…just
the facts, M’am”. Noting that the Virginia
Chamber of Commerce’s slogan is, “Virginia
Is For Lovers”, Josh reported that:

"Pam was born in Floyd Virginia, population 423. She
went on to...

Become a baton twirler in high
School.

Win the Miss Virginia Beauty
Pageant (we were a little vague on just when).

Study at Virginia
Tech, home of the Hokies.

Dye her hair brown for 30
years, feeding the speculation of Swampy ‘the Sleez’ Baggs.

Actually competed as a timed runner
in the Bay to Breakers. Again we were a little vague on dates.”

X-Prez and current Secretary Jon Lawlis was
clearly feeling sorry for Pam so he jumped
in with a long list of accomplishments of Pam’s
administration. Noting that Pam has not started
any wars and left a surplus in the club treasury, Jon
spent about five minutes reading a list of programs successfully
run during Pam’s year. A partial list of
these program can be seen in this website, under
the 'Programs’ tab.

Jon concluded by
praising Pam’s emphasis of club fellowship including
the New Member Socials, wine and other libation
tasting dinners at the Hotel Mac, and a very large number
of poker parties. The list could and did go on,
but we will end it here saying, CONGRATULATIONS PAM JONES
ON A VERY SUCCESSFUL ROTARY YEAR. ENJOY LONDON!

- Rotating Editor, Jim Young.

Upcoming Programs

July 4
Night skies bright, club dark.

Have a suggestion for a speaker? Please pass along
the name and contact information to Jim Young.

Writers Wanted
Got a way with words?

At least until the New Yorker magazine contacts you,
consider becoming a Flywheel editor. Talk to Jim Young
for details.